Respondents to a recent survey conducted by the Lake County Bar Association on two judges up for retention this year have recommended the judges be retained.

Superior Judges Salvador Vasquez of the civil division and Jesse M. Villalpando of the criminal division received about 75 percent of “yes” responses as to whether they should be retained. Vasquez was rated as well qualified, and Villalpando received a qualified overall rating.

The survey asked lawyers to anonymously rate judges on a scale of 1-10 in three areas: competence, temperament and character. The survey was open to 979 attorneys living and practicing in Lake County; 265 lawyers participated.

Lake County uses a merit-selection process to choose judges, who then must run for retention every six years.